Reversing camera setup - any good ones??

[Sol]

I really want a rearview camera and screen to replace the lack of rear mirror. I'd like to have a screen where the mirror would be, and wire it to come on with the ignition and stay on while running, not just when reversing. That part is easy, I'm a spark, but has anyone got recommendations for a good kit they've seen, or have in their vans already?

eBay is full of Chinese sets for pennies but I'm not that impressed with the quality of the hardware and plastics. Halfords have kits, not cheap, but they don't look high quality either.

Surely there must be a good, UK or EU made set for up to £100 that is decent quality and available? Goggling just brings page after page of eBay Chinese tat.

[ffrenchie]

A friend of mine has had 3 different ones fitted to his Transit and they've all packed up after about 15 months so. I think it's a gamble whichever you buy. The first was an expensive one fitted by an auto electrician and the other two were cheap from ebay. Sorry I can't help you with a make but the ones he had all look like the same camera with different packaging. The last one packed up while we were out delivering a bike and it stopped working after going over a vicious speed bump, not particularly fast.

[Sol]

A friend of mine has had 3 different ones fitted to his Transit and they've all packed up after about 15 months so. I think it's a gamble whichever you buy. The first was an expensive one fitted by an auto electrician and the other two were cheap from ebay. Sorry I can't help you with a make but the ones he had all look like the same camera with different packaging. The last one packed up while we were out delivering a bike and it stopped working after going over a vicious speed bump, not particularly fast.

Hey thanks Frenchie. I do really miss a rear view, having steel doors. Especially if I have to park nose-in at a supermarket car park, then cant see truly behind when reversing out. Parking sensors are ok when reversing to a known object, but kids, trolleys, other moving cars in a shopping car park come up on you too quickly for that to be of use. 

Surely someone must make a proper kit made in Germany or Japan that is pukka!

[smith335]

I know what your saying about not having a camera, had one on my last car.

sensors are ok , but a camera and sensors belt and braces.
how did we ever mange before these came out ....

is there not a kit you can get to hook a camera up to the 7 inch touch screen ?

[Sol]

I know what your saying about not having a camera, had one on my last car.

sensors are ok , but a camera and sensors belt and braces.
how did we ever mange before these came out ....

is there not a kit you can get to hook a camera up to the 7 inch touch screen ?

Nah, I have the RD4 with Bluetooth but not the larger touchscreen, mine is the intermediate orange one that shows the van from above when reversing. It's good, but is an lcd dot matrix type display so not camera friendly. If I had the later factory touchscreen I'd have loved to use that. Also could put an android head unit in but then there's the faff with connects2 cables to keep the stalks buttons all working as every stalk has a button on the end to control the stereo, the Bluetooth / voice control and the trip computer respectively.

I'd love to put the new screen up where the mirror should be, as I'm programmed to look up there and it wouldn't obscure the original one.

[Sol]

I know what your saying about not having a camera, had one on my last car.

sensors are ok , but a camera and sensors belt and braces.
how did we ever mange before these came out ....

is there not a kit you can get to hook a camera up to the 7 inch touch screen ?

Nah, I have the RD4 with Bluetooth but not the larger touchscreen, mine is the intermediate orange one that shows the van from above when reversing. It's good, but is an lcd dot matrix type display so not camera friendly. If I had the later factory touchscreen I'd have loved to use that. Also could put an android head unit in but then there's the faff with connects2 cables to keep the stalks buttons all working as every stalk has a button on the end to control the stereo, the Bluetooth / voice control and the trip computer respectively.

I'd love to put the new screen up where the mirror should be, as I'm programmed to look up there and it wouldn't obscure the original one.

Edit: this looks pretty good and has great reviews with pics of installs. Think I'll try one of these. Also you can turn off the parking lines which is perfect as I want it on with ignition.

Amazon camera kit

[Pedronicus]

Edit: this looks pretty good and has great reviews with pics of installs. Think I'll try one of these. Also you can turn off the parking lines which is perfect as I want it on with ignition.

Amazon camera kit

If you are thinking of wiring it to be on permanently rather than only when reversing you might like to have a look at this article.  Same rules apply to positioning of satnavs.

[Tree]

Edit: this looks pretty good and has great reviews with pics of installs. Think I'll try one of these. Also you can turn off the parking lines which is perfect as I want it on with ignition.

Amazon camera kit

If you are thinking of wiring it to be on permanently rather than only when reversing you might like to have a look at this article.  Same rules apply to positioning of satnavs.

Christ knows how Citroen have got round it then - my rear view factory fitted camera is about 4" of screen with 1/2" of border round it!

[Pedronicus]

Christ knows how Citroen have got round it then - my rear view factory fitted camera is about 4" of screen with 1/2" of border round it!

I suspect the factory fitted unit only operates when reversing whereas Zion is talking about having his on permanently.

[Tree]

Christ knows how Citroen have got round it then - my rear view factory fitted camera is about 4" of screen with 1/2" of border round it!

I suspect the factory fitted unit only operates when reversing whereas Zion is talking about having his on permanently.

Both - works on as a mirror when you are driving and flicks to a 120 degrees wide when reversing. I also have a button on the indicator stalk that engages the camera under the passenger mirror eliminating the blind spot.